Man arrested for cruelty to animals after dead dog found in backyard

A call from an anonymous source Saturday evening led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man on charges of animal cruelty.

According to reports, when deputies from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office arrived, they found one dog dead and a second one dying in the backyard of Tivar Thalmus Harrell’s Beaverdam Lane home.

Deputies initially spoke wit Harrell’s girlfriend who reportedly told them she was aware the dogs were in the backyard and that one of them was sick but that her boyfriend was responsible for them. She allegedly gave deputies permission to check on the dog.

When they entered the backyard deputies reportedly smelled a foul odor immediately and then noticed one dog, wearing a heavy chain around its neck, chained to a tree. There was no food, water or shelter and the dog was very thin. The deputies also noted that the dog appeared to have been dead for several days.

The live animal was taken by Newton County Animal Control but due to its poor condition had to be euthanized. Both dogs were young mixed breeds and both were very thin.

Harrell was transported to the Newton County Detention Center where he was charged with animal cruelty.